GP referred - now what?

[LET.ME.OUT.OF.THIS.BODY]

Hi folks
as i mentioned in a previous post my GP agreed to refer me to Mr Small at SRH but unlike most other referrals in Sunderland where you can choose and book an appointment i was told i should hear something in the next week or two re my referral but i have heard nothing so rang my GP surgery on Friday afternoon and was told to contact the Consultants secretary as they couldnt tell me anything. i know this won't happen overnight but i at least thought i'd of recieved some sort of confirmation of referral. also was wondering does the fact that my GP has referred me mean i will get funding or is that something seperate altogether? and at what point do they tell me if i can have the surgery? and what determines that?

i am still struggling to navigate my way around this site and would love someone to tell me how you get all these fancy pictures and writing on your pages ect?

look forward to hearing from you all.
regrads
Lea

 

[slimmerkay]

It's all still new and confusing to me and different PCTs do things differently but basically your GP has to apply for funding for you to the PCT and until you have funding I don't think any appointments will be made with the consultant.

Good luck!

 

[phatmomma]

No i'm 100% certain that a gp referral gives automatic funding. The primary care trust holds the money pot that pays for wls so it is up to them to grant funding......

Good luck with your application and i hope your journey starts soon xx

 

[slimmerkay]

No i'm 100% certain that a gp referral gives automatic funding. The primary care trust holds the money pot that pays for wls so it is up to them to grant funding......

Good luck with your application and i hope your journey starts soon xx

I'm more confused now. So a GP referall means automatic funding and it doesn't have to be applied for seperately? So is it because my Dietician was the first to refer me that we have to apply to the PCT for funding?

I thought I was already confused - even more so now lol

 

[phatmomma]

I'm more confused now. So a GP referall means automatic funding and it doesn't have to be applied for seperately? So is it because my Dietician was the first to refer me that we have to apply to the PCT for funding?

I thought I was already confused - even more so now lol

Sorry i meant to put 'doesn't in there! Your gp has no control over funding, they can only plead your case if necessary xx

 

[angie790]

Hi folks
as i mentioned in a previous post my GP agreed to refer me to Mr Small at SRH but unlike most other referrals in Sunderland where you can choose and book an appointment i was told i should hear something in the next week or two re my referral but i have heard nothing so rang my GP surgery on Friday afternoon and was told to contact the Consultants secretary as they couldnt tell me anything. i know this won't happen overnight but i at least thought i'd of recieved some sort of confirmation of referral. also was wondering does the fact that my GP has referred me mean i will get funding or is that something seperate altogether? and at what point do they tell me if i can have the surgery? and what determines that?

i am still struggling to navigate my way around this site and would love someone to tell me how you get all these fancy pictures and writing on your pages ect?

look forward to hearing from you all.
regrads
Lea

Hi Lea,

I'm not from your area & didn't catch your previous posts (soz) so probably won't be much help, but here goes anyway as far as I understand it from my area...

I spoke to my GP & asked for a WLS referral, I had to wait around 6 weeks for an appt for my obesity consultant, then about 6 months for my follow up appt with him. In those 6 months, I saw a dietician, an exercise specialist, and went to a respiratory clinic to check for sleep apneoa, plus had bloods done for thyroid, diabetes etc. Once I finally got back to see the obesity specialist & we talked again, he agreed to refer my case to the PCT for funding approval....I waited about 10 weeks before I heard back that funding had been approved. I was then referred to the hospital that is performing the op; I waited about 2 months for a group education session appt & about 10 weeks for the pre-op assessment appt. Finally, good news for me, I have just received my date for my actual op, a mere 8 weeks later, although there is typically an 18 week wait in my area. In all, by the time my op comes around, I will have waited about 14 months.

However, I must stress that it really depends on where you live, any co-morbidities you have & your PCT criteria that will ultimately determine how quickly things move along for you.

A similar post a little while ago showed that some people have to wait only a few months, while others can wait years before eventually jumping through all the hoops to finally get their op agreed. Hopefully someone in your area will be along to better advise you xxx

 

[LET.ME.OUT.OF.THIS.BODY]

thanks for that. it is becoming very aparent that that every trust has a completely different way of going about this. i have already been referred to the respiratory clinic re sleep apneoa and have an appointment for 15th September. im pretty sure from reading other posts from people in Sunderland that the first appointment is a group seminar but thats all i know. x

 

[LET.ME.OUT.OF.THIS.BODY]

GOOD NEWS - i recieved my first appointment letter in this mornings post and have to attend a group seminar on 20th October. anyone else from north east attending this one? x

 

[novamay]

Hi Lea, I go to the group session at Sunderland on the 8th September so can give you the heads up on what to expect after then if you want... I went to see my GP in June and he wrote off to Sunderland that week. I got my letter re the group seminar date through about three weeks after that.
Are you going to the patient support group in August? I went to the one in July where Kim (one of the dieticians) went through the appointments procedures and i'm sure she said that if you get an invite to the group seminar then the fundings been sorted... o If I've picked this up wrong, could someone please tell me!!!). Kim also said that SRH were trying to get appointments so that they were around 4 months apart. Likley to be about 14-18 months in all, but well worth it... gives us time to save for that new wardrobe!

 

[babybell]

hey,
im from chester le street and my gp sent a email to the PCT for funding i was told the next week i was lucky enough to get it. xx

 

[babybell]

GOOD NEWS - i recieved my first appointment letter in this mornings post and have to attend a group seminar on 20th October. anyone else from north east attending this one? x

Hey,
Ive got that date too, where you from ??. xx

 

[luv2bskinny]

hi i am from sunderland too, i ave been refered from my doctors nd i ave recived a letter bk from sunderland hospital sayin they are just waitin for a appointment 2 come up nd will b in touch soon!! i am just wondering wot happens from now??? i am wantin a gastric band, i ave had all my blood test nd everything taken so just aftre more info really!! i am desperate at the mo nd i just fink the more time i ave 2 sit nd think about things t more scared i wil get haha

any help or info wil b great
thanxs xxx

 

[luv2bskinny]

hi all,
i am new 2 this forum so if i post my replys a couple of times sorry haha x

 

[laurajlucy]

Hi all. Im with SRH too. As a basic run through... i was referred by my GP in Febuary and attended the seminar at Sunderland March 17th, which was a fantastic source of knowledge! I went for my appointment with the nurse and dietician in early July and was set a weight loss target. I was told then that they would all get together and discuss my case and i would then recieve an appointment to see the surgeon. Not sure wether they agree and then apply for funding but i got my appointment through soon after and i see Mr. Small on the 21st Oct!!
Went to see my GP last week and he told me that he had got a very positive letter from the team regarding my case.... soooooo excited but nervous at the same time xx Hope this in some way helps. I Hate not knowing!! X

 

[LET.ME.OUT.OF.THIS.BODY]

Hi Nova, what is the patient support group you mentioned in August i dont know anything about that? and where are you all meeting on 8th September? i would love to meet up with you all if i can.
even within this area things are differing greatly "love to be skinny" you mentioned having bloods done?? when i saw my GP she weighed me, agreed to refer me and then said i should recieve something in the post which i did about three weeks later i got the appointment for the seminar in October but i have not had any bloods done yet though?
"Lovetobeskinny" - i am also very new to this site but im sure we will get the hang of it in time and try not to worry to much everyone on here has been really supportive and a wealth of knowledge so if you have any queries post em on here and someone will have an answer for you. x x
"Babybell" - love the name, my maiden name was Bell and my friends used to call me baby bell, ha. i am from Sunderland, where you from? will the October seminar be your first appointment like me? have you had bloods done?.
Thanks very much for that run through KELLY it is good to see time frames ect from someone who is also going to Mr Small. so you see the man himself the day after me and BABYBELL attend the seminar. please let us know how it goes. x x x

 

[Grace]

Hia Lea
I was referred to Sunderland out of area (I live in North Yorkshire) At my first appointment in Sunderland I was give a sheet with a list of blood tests to take back to my GP and have done. I also had to be tested for sleep apnoea (as the questionnaire I did at the clinic appointment showed I may have it) that was also arranged by my GP. It did turn out that I have sleep apnoea. At that appointment I was given a weight loss target.

My next apppointment was in September (the first one was in April, they didn't invite me to the seminar because I live so far away) and even though I'd met the weight loss target, I wasn't put on the waiting list, as in the meantime, they'd decided they wanted me to see the psychologist! I eventually got to see the psychologist in December, 2 sessions) and eventually got put on the waiting list in February this year, and had my surgery 2 weeks ago.
So that gives you an idea of time scales and how things are done. I hope it's helpful.
Charis xx

 

[novamay]

Hi folks
as i mentioned in a previous post my GP agreed to refer me to Mr Small at SRH but unlike most other referrals in Sunderland where you can choose and book an appointment i was told i should hear something in the next week or two re my referral but i have heard nothing so rang my GP surgery on Friday afternoon and was told to contact the Consultants secretary as they couldnt tell me anything. i know this won't happen overnight but i at least thought i'd of recieved some sort of confirmation of referral. also was wondering does the fact that my GP has referred me mean i will get funding or is that something seperate altogether? and at what point do they tell me if i can have the surgery? and what determines that?

i am still struggling to navigate my way around this site and would love someone to tell me how you get all these fancy pictures and writing on your pages ect?

look forward to hearing from you all.
regrads
Lea

Hi Lea, The patient support group meets at the Education Centre in Sunderland Royal Hospital - this is the same venue for the Group Seminars. The next meeting is tomorrow (Thursday 26th August) at 6pm. Liz (j.u.s.t.L.i.z) is the main contact/guru for the support group so if you've anything to ask then put out a shout out to her. There's a thread about the support group - and Liz may put messages on there - look under 'Forum Jump' (green banner above) for it. hope this helps....

 

[luv2bskinny]

yeah i have had all my bloods taken, thyroid and everything has came bk normal!!! i have even been 2 the weight managment and spoke to a head doctor haha my 1st appointment has came through for the 27th oct but i am just hoping i dont have 2 go through everything all ova again!! i am even considering lendin money off my mam 2 get it done private xx

 

[luv2bskinny]

i ave getten my 1st appointment through 27th oct so just see how things go from their!! i ave had all me bllods, thyroid nd weight managment done, even been 2 c the head doctor so i just hope i dont ave 2 go through it all again!! wot happens after the 1st appointment< i am even considering lending the money off my mam 2 get it done privately xx